About 240 people gathered before dawn on June 21 at Futami Okitama Shrine in Ise, Mie Prefecture, to pray for good health during a summer solstice ritual held in front of the Meoto Iwa rocks. (News On Japan)

Davey Hearn says he was simply touching the new paint at the site out of curiosity and did not remove or alter it.

Davey Hearn says he was simply touching the new paint at the site out of curiosity and did not remove or alter it.

Damon Albarn, De La Soul and Moonchild Sannelly talk backstage as Gorillaz play their biggest show.

Annual street parties attended by millions ordered to help “preserve” healthcare services in 40C (104F) heat.

The annual Fête de la Musique celebrations draw millions to the streets but the most serious heatwave warnings have been issued for 35 of the country's departments.

Urakawa, a Hokkaido town of about 10,000 people known as one of Japan's leading thoroughbred breeding centers, is seeing a rapid increase in Indian residents as local farms turn to experienced overseas workers to offset a shrinking pool of Japanese horse trainers. (News On Japan)

The Bank of Japan's decision on June 16 to raise its policy interest rate to 1%, the highest level in roughly 30 years, is expected to increase annual net burdens by more than 20,000 yen for households in their 30s with two or more members once higher interest income on deposits and increased mortgage repayment costs are both taken into account, according to estimates by an economist. (News On Japan)

Victims' families say there are ways to be an ethical true-crime fan - not an exploitative one.

An AI company is sending free cleaners door-to-door in a bid to train the robots it hopes one day will replace them.

A left-wing senator who backs talks with armed gangs faces an outsider endorsed by Trump.

A left-wing senator who backs talks with armed gangs faces an outsider endorsed by Trump.

A left-wing senator who backs talks with armed gangs faces an outsider endorsed by Trump.

The Israeli military accused Ahmed Wishah of being a "Hamas sniper operative", without providing evidence.

The Israeli military accused Ahmed Wishah of being a "Hamas sniper operative", without providing evidence.

Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako, on a state visit to the Netherlands, reunited with Princess Catharina-Amalia, the Dutch princess who was photographed holding hands with Princess Aiko 20 years ago, in a visit that highlighted the long friendship between the Japanese imperial family and the Dutch royal house. (News On Japan)

A damaged and badly decomposed body of an adult man was found inside a large freezer near the entrance of a locked apartment in Kobe on June 20, prompting police to investigate the case as a possible crime. (News On Japan)

Japan delivered their strongest performance of the World Cup so far with a 4-0 victory over Tunisia in Monterrey on June 21, moving to four points in Group F and putting themselves in a strong position to reach the knockout stage ahead of their final group match against Sweden. (News On Japan)

Mona Khalil, who had refused to leave the beach she had spent years protecting, died after several days in hospital, an environmental group said.

Mona Khalil, who had refused to leave the beach she had spent years protecting, died from her injuries after the Israeli strike.